Without preconditions and ulterior motives

OUR dedication and fidelity to whatever vocation or

commitment of love that we may have, be it in single blessedness or in

marriage, in priesthood or in lay life, should be so pure and

completely gratuitous that we would pursue and develop it without

preconditions and ulterior motives.

            This is what is proper to us as shown in the life of the

very pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged humanity,

Jesus Christ himself. He gave himself completely to us in total

obedience to the will of his Father.

            Like him, we should just give our all, in spite of the ups

and downs, the routine and surprises of our life. We should not count

the cost, nor make preconditions and keep some ulterior motives.

            We should be willing to give up everything to be faithful

to our vocation. Remember Christ saying, “Whoever does not bear his

own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple…whoever of you who

does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Lk

14,27.33)

            But given the way we usually are, i.e., since we are

always prone to count the cost, put preconditions and keep ulterior

motive, we really would need to continually purify and renew our

dedication and fidelity to our vocation. We have to be realistic about

this fact of life. We have to learn to give up things for the sake of

our commitments.

            Such dedication and fidelity can only show the

authenticity of our commitment of love, and of our faith and trust in

God and in his providence. Whatever happens, even in the grip of great

suffering and death, we simply should just stick to what we promised

to God and to the others.

            Again, let’s remember what Christ said about abandoning

ourselves in his hands when confronted with great difficulties and

trials. “Consider the lilies how they grow. They toil not, they spin

not, and yet I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not

arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is

today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more

will he clothe you…?” (Lk 12,27-28)

            We know that God will take care of everything. What we

cannot complete in spite of our efforts, he will complete. What we

cannot perfect, he will perfect it. This conviction should always be

with us.

            And by doing so, we would be invincibly convinced that we

are doing right. The ideal situation is that there would be no doubt

or hesitation in giving ourselves completely to God and the others.

Let’s leave behind any preconditions we may have in mind in dedicating

ourselves to our vocation.

            This, obviously, will require some training. We have to

aim at having the proper understanding and attitude of what a

commitment of love is. Let always remember that it is God who takes

the initiative to call. He is the one who gives the vocation. And he

takes care of everything.

            Ours is simply to correspond. This correspondence should

be based on God’s love as shown to us by Christ himself. We really

have no reason to doubt our vocation and commitments, as long as we

always refer them to God. And from there, we have to develop the

relevant virtues and skills.

            Yes, we should always have in our mind the example of

Christ’s fidelity and dedication to his mission. Our understanding of

dedication and fidelity that is short of its requirement to be

identified with Christ would not go far. It would just be creating a

bubble, a false concept of fidelity that would burst in a matter of

time.

            We have to purify our motives in dedicating ourselves to

our vocation. Love, the love of God should completely inspire us in

our dedication and fidelity. In that way, we can truly be fruitful and

at the same time enjoy peace and joy in spite of the difficulties and

sacrifices involved.